Display-rack



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 30 mm.) V l W. HENDERSON 8v 0 A. MORSE.

DISPLAY RACK. No. 569,715. Patented Oct. 20, 1896.

Wziineasas @ggihvZ/Enfiars fm/z w (/4 wai (No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

W. HENDERSON 82; 0. A. MORSE.

DISPLAY RACK.

Patented 0613. 20, 1896.

Wv'inasses UNITED STATES PATENT rrinE.

WILLIAM HENDERSON AND ORSON A. MORSE, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y., AS-

SIGNORS TO THEMSELVES, AND HENRY STOCKDALE, OF NEWARK, NEXV JERSEY.

DISPLAY-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,715, dated October20, 1896.

Application filed MayZS, 1896. Serial No. 592,786. (No model.)

To all, wiwiw it may concern.-

Be it known that we,WILLIAu HENDERSON and ORSON A. )IORSE, residing inthe city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Display Racks or Frames, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The subject of the present invention is a frame or rack for displaying aline of small goods, such as neckties, gloves, hosiery, handkerchiefs,the, and has for its object the production of such a device that can bereadily and securely attached on a post, column, frame, corner, or otherpart which is either not ordinarily adapted for receiving hooks or othersuspending devices or which would become objectionably defaced orinjured if said devices were driven into the same.

Our frame or rack is of simple and durable construction, of attractiveappearance, and, besides, is comparatively light and inexpensive.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification andrepresent what we consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a vertical elevation showing our improved rack or frameapplied to a post or upright. Fig. 2 is a plan View of one form of theframe or rack. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in the plane indicatedby the dotted lines 2 2 in Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of thearrow in said figure. These views, Figs. 2 and 3, illustrate the meansfor connecting the ends of the central clasping-band. Figs. 4: and 5show modifications. Fig. i is a sectional plan view showing theapplication of the rack to the corner bar or molding of a show-window.Fig. 5 is a perspective View illustrating the most complete form of theinvention, the frame-claspin g bands being bent to present horizontalloops projecting from between the facing-sections and serving toincrease the spring of the bands and afford provision for hangingarticles.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures Where they appear.

In the construction shown A A refer to upper and lower horizontal metalbands, which are divided at the rear.

lVe will employ supernumerals in connection with the reference-lettersto designate dependent and intimately-related parts of the elementrepresented by the general referencecharacter.

The bands A A are of spring character and sufficiently powerful torequire some force to spread them. 13 is a band of similar diameter andcharacter and located intermediately of the bands A A. It may be statedat this point that any number of bands may be employed, according to thelength in tended and the use of the frame. The free ends of the bands AA terminate in bearing portions or heads A", rounded by curling themetal, as represented, while the corresponding ends of the band B areprovided with an extensible spring M, carrying a hook B and a loop B,respectively adapted for mutual engagement.

A series of wires 0 extend vertically, as shown in Fig. 3, and formedwith outwardlyprojecting hooks O of the shape illustrated most clearlyin Figs. 1 and 3, the lower member of which is inclined to serve as abrace for strengthening the hook. The lower ends constitute extensionsturned to form loops 0*, somewhat larger than the hooks C, and which mayserve to give a large base-rest when the device is standing on a flooror counter.

The several bands A A and B are strongly connected by a series ofvertical sections D, which may be of wood, aluminium, or other suitablematerial for affording strength and presentin g an ornamental facing andto secure lightness. Generally bamboo will be found satisfactory, and wewill refer to them sometimes as bamboos. The sections each have a seriesof longitudinal slots or openings D sufficiently large to permit thehooks G to project through the same when the section is verticallyadjusted on the frame. Rivets D which pass through the bamboo section D,can be riveted to the bands, to the end that the several parts can befirmly and positively secured together.

Externally on the strips of bamboo and adjacent to the points where theyare connected to the several bands are the wires E, one end,

E, of each of whichis fastened to the adjacent hand A A or B and is thenled to the nearest projecting hook 0, makes a pass around the wireforming the latter, and so on successively with the other hooks, eachwire E forming a series of horizontal loops, as indicated in Fig. 2,serving as an additional pro vision upon which to hang various articles.

A preferred arrangement consists in giving increased length to each bandA A and 13 and bending each to form a series of horizontal circularloops, as A, which extend around outside of the sections D, as shown inthe modification Fig. 5, to receive and be connected to a bamboo sectionD, slotted and having projections O to enable articles to be hungthereon, as before. The loops A, besides the suspending function stated,will largely increase the spring character of the several bands. 7 Thetwo bamboos at the ends of the bands, which Will be fixed, as on a plainring, will fasten the sprin gs together securely the same as in othersprings.

The construction described in the foregoing constitutes a light,durable, and attractive display-rack that may be sprung into engagementwith a post or upright, the strong closing action of the bands causingthem to hug the post so firmly that the frame will be sup ported at theproper point on the post.

The articles can be so suspended on the hooks C as tobe displayed togreat advantage.

It will be noted that the curved heads A by reason of theirsmoothly-rounded form may bear against the same with considerablepressure without abrading or marking it.

The ends of the band B are positively connected by distending the spring13, carrying the eyeB, so that the latter can engage the hook B and theelastic force of the spring will contract the entire band.

The tendency to slip downward when eX- cessive weight is imposed may beeffectually provided against by locating a pin or hook I in the post For other support, and if the latter be of metal this can readily beaccomplished by drilling or tapping a small hole therein for the hook.In most cases one of such hooks will be sufficient, as the tensionexerted by the weight will cause the rack to cant to a slight extent andcause it to clamp with more force on the post or support.

\Vith a view to increasing the utility as well as ornamental appearanceof the rack, a fabric J of suitable character may be arranged within thesame to show through the liberal spaces between the sections of hambooD, and may, if desired, be price-marked or tagged. The fabric may beretained in position by any suitable means. It can be stitched at one ormore points to the wires or other convenient parts, or even. be fastenedby cement. One arrangement consists in providing the sections D withinwardly-projecting spurs D which engage the fabric body.

The sections D form such rigid connections that when the central band Bis spread or forced apart, the bands A A will be opened or spread to acorresponding extent, the movement of all the bands being simultaneous;or if the .strength of the operator is not suificient he can extend theuppermost band most and engage or partly engage it with the pillar orother upright 13, and then proceed to distend the band B, and finallythe lower band A, thus effecting the application by installments.

The rack will be made of different diameters and lengths, according torequirements, and can, when preferred,be sufficiently long to embracethe post or support F throughout. When it is intended to be applied to avertical section or molding F of wood, such, for instance, as forms thecorner of a show-window frame, and the diameter of the molding is lessthan that of the display -rack, the hook-and-eye provision B B isomitted from the end portion of the band B, so that the ends will entersmall holes provided in the molding and by the normal spring contractionof the band be retained therein, and thus preserve the whole fromslipping down. With the ends of the band B in the position described thecurved heads A of the bands A A will bear with such considerablepressure on the rear faces of the molding as will aid the engaged endsof the band B in holding the rack in position. In this application ofthe invention we pivotally connect to the inner side of the frame curvedsections G G, terminating in an eye and hook, respectively, and of suchlength (see the modification in Fig. 4) that when engaged they willexert considerable tension on the sides of the frame tending to drawthem toward each other, and thus effectively supplement the supportingaction of the several bands A A and B.

Our frame can stand on the floor or on a bench or table. It may in thiscondition receive the whole or a portion of the articles which are to beexhibited. After such have been properly attached the frame with itsload can be lifted and secured in place, embracing the post or otherupright, and, finally, any additional articles may be attached tocomplete the display.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle orsacrificing the advantages of the invention. The rivets may besufficiently sunk to avoid scratching the pillar or upright. We can usemore than two of the elastic bands A A and more than one of the hookedbands 13. The form and disposition of the connecting-stays C may bevaried, it being desirable to employ an arrangement that will be bothlight and strong.

There maybe several of the bamboo sections D in one or more of thehorizontal loops. One is shown as thus provided in Fig. 5.

WVhile we have described our improved display-rack as applied simply toposts and the vertical moldings of window-frames, it will be obviousthat we may use any desired number of said racks so applied one abovean- ZOO other. e can use such also in connection with special standsprovided for the purpose and each comprising a post or upright supportedby a suitable base.

Parts of the invention can be used Without the whole. We can attain someof the advantages of the invention by dispensingwith the middle andlower band and having the upper one sufficiently strong and elastic tosupport the Whole alone.

'We claim as our invention- 1. The combination in a display rack orframe, of a plurality of clasping-bands having elastic contractile forcesufficient to clamp a post and thereby sustain the frame and its load,attached together bya series of connections presenting projectionsadapted to engage the articles to be exhibited, substan tially as hereinspecified.

2. In a display rack or frame, the combination of one or moreclasping-bands having a series of connecting-wires extending up anddown, and intermittently bent horizontally to form projections adaptedto engage the articles to be exhibited, substantially as hereinspecified.

3. In a display rack or frame, the combination of a plurality ofclasping-bands connected together by a series of rigid and slottedfacing-sections, and wires attached to the bands and bent horizontallythrough the slots to present projections adapted to engage the articlesto be displayed, substantially as herein specified.

4. The combination in a display rack or frame having projections adaptedto engage the articles to be exhibited, of a plurality of springclasping-bands A, A, B, connected together, the bands A, A, havingcurved bearing-heads, substantially as herein specified.

5. The combination in a display rack or frame having projections adaptedto engage the articles to be exhibited, of a plurality of springclasping-bands A, A, including a band B, provided with a connection suchas a hook and eye, for holding saidiband contracted, substantially asherein specified.

6. The combination in a display rack or frame having projections adaptedto engage the articles to be exhibited, of a plurality of clasping-bands connected together 13 y facin gsections D, having liberalintervening spaces and an inner fabric exposed through said spaces,substantially as herein specified.

WILLIAM HENDERSON. ORSON A. MORSE.

lVitnesses:

M. F. BOYLE, J. B. GLAUTIoE.

